How to ask for a blessing from a priest?
- Bless, honest father!
- An appeal to the priest. How to take a blessing. It is not customary to address a priest by name and patronymic, he is called full name the way it sounds in Church Slavonic with the addition of the word father: Father Alexy, or (as is customary among the majority of church people) father. You can also address a deacon by name, which must be preceded by the word father. But in the case of a deacon, since he does not have the grace-filled power of ordination to the priesthood, he is not supposed to take a blessing.
Blessing is not only a request to give a blessing, but also a form of greeting from a priest, with whom it is not customary to greet with the word hello. If at this moment you are next to the priest, then you need to bow, stand in front of the priest, folding your hands, palms up, right over the left. Father, overshadowing you sign of the cross, says: God bless, or In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit - and puts his right, blessing hand on your palms. At this moment, the layman receiving the blessing kisses the priest's hand. It happens that kissing the hand confuses some beginners. We should not be embarrassed not to kiss the priest's hand, but to Christ himself, who at this moment invisibly stands and blesses us And we touch with our lips the place where the wounds from the nails were on the hands of Christ
The priest can bless at a distance, as well as put the sign of the cross on the bowed head of a layman, then touching his head with his palm. One should not just before taking a blessing from a priest, sign himself with the sign of the cross, that is, be baptized with a priest.
The situation during the divine service looks tactless and dishonorable, when one of the priests goes from the altar to the place of confession or to perform baptism, and many parishioners at that moment rush to him for a blessing, crowding each other.
V Orthodox Church On official occasions (during a lecture, speech, in a letter), it is customary for your Reverend to address the dean of the monastery, and Your Reverend or Your Reverend, if the governor is a hieromonk, address to the abbot, the abbot of the monastery (if he is an abbot or archimandrid). Your Grace is addressed to the bishop, and Your Eminence is addressed to the archbishops and metropolitans. In a conversation, the bishop, archbishop and metropolitan can be addressed even less formally by the Vladyka, and to the abbot of the monastery, the father is the abbot or the father is the abbot. TO To His Holiness the Patriarch it is customary to contact Your Holiness. These names, of course, do not mean the holiness of this or that a specific person priest or Patriarch, they express respect for the sacred dignity of confessors and saints.
The law of god
Priest's blessing
Clergymen (that is, specially dedicated people performing divine services) - our spiritual fathers: bishops (bishops) and priests (priests) - sign us with the sign of the cross. This overshadowing is called blessing.
Priest's blessing hand
When the priest blesses us, he folds his fingers so that they represent letters: Is. Xc., that is, Jesus Christ. This means that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself blesses us through the priest. Therefore, we should receive the blessing of the priest with reverence.
This is how we fold our hands to be blessed
When we hear the words of the general blessing in the church: "peace to all" and others, then in response to them we must bow, without the sign of the cross. And in order to receive a separate blessing for yourself from the bishop or priest, you need to fold your hands in a cross: right to left, palms up. Having received the blessing, we kiss the hand that blesses us - we kiss, as it were, the invisible hand of Christ the Savior Himself.
QUESTIONS: Who overshadows us with the sign of the cross? What is this overshadowing called? How does a priest fold his hand for a blessing? What does this mean? How should we fold our hands when we approach the blessing? What should you do after receiving a blessing?
Please tell me what the priest's blessing means?
Is it true that if I took a blessing from one priest, then 15 minutes after that, having met another priest, I should not take a blessing from him, because this is already nonsense? What should I do if, upon entering the room, I see several priests - from which of them should I take a blessing first? Or take a blessing from everyone?
New Christians are often confused by such questions.
We asked the cleric of the temple of the icon to answer them Mother of God"Joy of All Who Sorrow" by Mr. Klin, Archpriest Alexy Tyukov.
By accepting a blessing from a bishop or priest, a person thereby testifies to his Orthodox faith, about my churchliness, confessing the tenth member of the "Symbol of Faith": "I believe in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church". A person who receives a blessing from a priest, in his faith, receives it from the Chief Shepherd of our Lord Jesus Christ. Kissing the hand of the bishop or priest who blessed him, he gives not only reverence to the person wearing the priestly dignity, but his kiss is primarily , to our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, in whose Name the priest blessed us.
In our interpersonal relationships we greet each other every day, wishing the person we met health, good day, joy, peace. And these verbal good wishes are often associated with some kind of bodily actions that we habitually perform: we shake hands with each other, when we meet, we can exchange a brotherly kiss, embrace the person we meet in a friendly embrace. In the bosom of the Church of Christ there are also such bodily actions that express our inner spiritual state, our reverence, our desire, our spiritual search, this also applies to ancient tradition receiving blessings from a person clothed with holy orders. When we meet a priest or bishop in a church, on the street or in another setting, we receive a blessing from him and by this action we not only want to receive some kind of prayer cover, support, blessing for some of our work, for the next day, but thus, we greet the clergyman we met, we greet him. If we have already received such a blessing from one clergyman, and soon met another, then, of course, an inner feeling prompts a churchgoer that this meeting should also be properly treated, having received a blessing from this priest as well. We will not explain to the priest or bishop we met that we already took the blessing fifteen minutes ago, so excuse me, I will not take your blessing. You should not embarrass a person and give him a reason to think of you as an insufficiently churchly person and not striving for spiritual life.
There are life situations when it is impossible to take a blessing from all the priests we met at that time, for example, if we are on the bus where the priests are sitting, or in the cabin of the plane. Naturally, we cannot go through the entire salon, raising each priest and asking for his blessing. In this case, we will take the blessing from the priest who is closest to us, and by bowing slightly to other priests, we will thereby show our respectful attitude. We will do the same if we are in some kind of audience, at a conference, at a meeting, where we can meet many priests. In this case, we will take the blessing from the closest or familiar priest, if we can approach him without disturbing anyone, and we will respectfully bow to other priests or bishops who are in the space visible to us. And this will be church behavior and will not cause any negative attitude towards us.
Amount of records: 96
Bless, father! Is it possible to replace prayer rule by the prayer of Seraphim of Sarov? Do I need to take the blessing of the confessor for this? Save you Lord!
Paul
Paul, why do you need to replace the prayer rule? The Rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov is blessed for the elderly, infirm and sick people who find it difficult to keep their attention for a long time. If you do not fit into this category, then you do not need to be lazy to follow your rule - reading morning and evening prayers... It takes 15-20 minutes. In general, it is better to solve such questions with your spiritual father. I don’t know your inner spiritual state.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Bless Father Victorine! For many years I came to services at the monastery on Karpovka, located at one end of the city of St. Petersburg, where Archpriest Father George became my confessor. But the location of my work changed, and it became difficult for me to travel there (I did not have time for services, and on weekends I was lazy, a sinner). I have lost contact with the priest. I began to attend services at the Novodevichy Convent, which is closer to home and more accessible. I confessed and received communion in it with various priests, and did not reveal to them that I already had a confessor. What should I do in this case? Tell the holy father in the new church about this state, ask blessings from your confessor from the monastery on Karpovka? Save you Lord.
Boris
Boris, it's okay that you have moved and are far from your confessor. It is not necessary to go to the confessor every week, you need to go to him as needed, once a month, but you can go once a year. You can confess with any priest, and it is not necessary to say in confession that you have a confessor. We turn to the confessor when we have serious questions about life, and more insignificant, or ask a blessing for something, you can ask another priest, where you live. If you have serious questions, you need to contact your confessor. It is better for you to contact your confessor on Karpovka on this issue, and do as he blesses you.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! I am a believer, baptized, I go to church, I try to observe the fast, but I did not know that I needed to take a priest's blessing for fasting. I thought that it goes without saying, since the time of Great Lent. And what should I do now?
Olga
Olga, it is not necessary to take a blessing for fasting. You are right, fasting is a matter of course, and we must fulfill it. Taking a blessing is a good tradition, so that the Lord would give strength to endure fasting more easily. It’s okay that you didn’t take the blessing. As you fast, so fast.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello! Made great sin! I'm up today did not observe Great Lent! Didn't take the blessing from the priest! I can't even go to church to repent, because critical days have begun! What should I do now?
Catherine
Catherine, start fasting today. As the Gospel says, "The latter will receive as much as the former." Start a full-fledged fast, and the Lord will credit you as for the entire fast. When you can, go to church, repent in confession, ask the priest for blessing, and the Lord will forgive you. For the future, you need to be more serious about your soul.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Bless, father!
Galina
God bless, Galina!
Abbot Nikon (Golovko)
Dear Father! The servant of God Sophia is writing to you. Please help your wise advice... I am 19 years old and I am dating a guy who loves me, and I love him. We have been through a lot, have known each other for 5 years, and have been dating for 3 months. And we are planning a wedding. My parents, having learned about this, were completely indignant. It's too early, no one gets married like that, and so on. Every evening now there are scandals about this. And more recently it turned out that I am pregnant. I don't know how to tell them, because I see how they reacted to the news about the wedding. And I am sure that with their blessing we would live together very happily, despite the problems and obstacles. What should I do in this situation? How to convince parents? Or is it worth giving in to their parental will? Thanks in advance for your answer!
Sophia
Well, actually, your pregnancy is the most serious argument in favor of marriage. If you are afraid to talk to your parents about this on your own, try to find an "ally". Maybe you have an aunt or godmother with whom you have a more trusting relationship and who treats you with greater understanding? Talk to this person first and ask him for mediation. And, of course, pray that the Lord will arrange everything peacefully and amicably.
deacon Elijah Kokin
Hello fathers. I have a printout for fasting, what and when to eat and drink, very strict observance of the fast. I have been fasting for several years, but I did not know that I had to take a blessing, and only this year I asked for a blessing. I don’t know how to ask the question correctly. At my work, two women asked for this printout, I gave it to them, telling them in general that one should not start fasting so strictly and should receive a blessing (permission). They said that it is necessary to start sometime, etc. But my conscience torments me (I think this means that my act is wrong), since one woman visits the temple extremely rarely, and the other is Muslim (she, however, has her own rules does not observe everything, says that God is one for everyone and she will support her friend). What is my fault and how can I say it in confession? Sorry for the confusion, maybe this is stupidity, but I am haunted.
Natalia
Hello. I want to understand what the essence of blessing is. For example, I approached the priest and asked for a blessing. What does it do? If help is in some business, then people do not always say "bless for this and that." After all, the priest should know what he is blessing for. Just as an example: let's say a person wants to undergo plastic surgery to remove a serious birth defect. And he says to the priest: bless, without naming what. Or maybe he should. A congenital defect in a person - maybe this is the will of the Lord, the cross of a person from Him. If the priest blessed that an operation could be performed, then God Himself permits? It doesn't concern me. But how do you know the will of God to remove, for example, a birth defect? Already two questions. I think you understand my misunderstanding. Please give an answer. Thanks.
Alexander
When we take a blessing from a priest "just like that", we mean that this blessing, on the one hand, for our daily affairs, on the other hand, for the main business of our life - the salvation of the soul. As for your specific question, I think you should not be embarrassed, you need to take the priest's blessing for the operation (in this case, a special prayer is read).
deacon Elijah Kokin
Hello fathers. Please tell me how much Orthodox Christian during Great Lent is it allowed to watch TV programs, films, read secular books? Also, is it appropriate to visit a café to meet close friends (with a moderate meal of lean food)? I would also like to know whether it is required to take a blessing from the priest for fasting? Save me, God.
Tatiana
Tatyana, it is very good to take a blessing for the post. It is perfectly acceptable to meet in a cafe with friends (especially since you note that you will not break the fast). How much TV shows, films and books distract you from fasting - determine for yourself, just do not forget that in addition to secular media, fasting is good to have a separate time for reading spiritual literature and prayer. God help you.
Priest Sergiy Osipov
Hello father! I have female health problems for which surgery is recommended. A friend of mine, who had the same problem, went to some married couple who treated with hands, and she went away. Then her friend and her mother also went to these people. And they were helped. My friend's mother, before going to them, received the blessing of the priest. Can I try to visit them too?
Nina
Nina, I don't think that one should go to them, even if some priest has blessed someone. "Hand healing" is an occult practice, in a certain sense of the word - a satanic cult, it is completely incompatible with faith in God. Let's leave the blessing of the priest in brackets: there can be a lot of ambiguous things in this episode - either it is a mistake, or the priest misunderstood, or he is simply very mistaken as a person. All this is possible. But we must firmly know that after temporary relief, turning to such "healers" subsequently often brings serious complications, and certainly the most serious spiritual harm. I understand that the question is not easy for you - either an operation, or such easy way... But this is already a matter of confession! There is no need for illusions: the ease of healing is deceiving, and contact with demons will have to pay for your whole life. May the Lord strengthen you!
Abbot Nikon (Golovko)
Good day. Tell me please. I want to start fasting. How to receive a blessing, what day it should be done, how to prepare, I don't know anything about it. Thank you in advance.
Alevtina
Alevtina, we have all received the blessing for fasting from the Holy Apostles. We need to observe all the fasts that are in the church throughout the year. This fast is strict or Great, during this fast you cannot eat meat, dairy and fish products. Orthodox Christians receive communion in the first week of fasting, and before that you need to confess and, of course, fast. March 17, Forgiveness Sunday, come to church, and after the service, the priest will bless everyone for Great post... In the church shop, find a small brochure "Helping the Penitent", it says how to prepare for confession and Communion and how to fast.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Good day. My name is Aleksey. He is married with two children. From June 2012 to the New Year he worked in Russia, before that he took a blessing, confessed and received the Holy Communion. And took a blessing on new job before going to Russia, to St. Petersburg. He worked unsuccessfully, and even got injured. Now, I received the Holy Communion and confessed, and again I was unlucky with work. He got into loans and was overgrown with debt and poverty. And already on the verge of possible patience. He prayed and read akathists to the saints, and there was nothing. Question: how to understand God's blessing in order to be lucky with work for the good of the family? Tell me what to do. No job, no money, only debt and frustration. I put an advertisement in the newspaper to make a "coven", and here it is muffled.
Alexey
Hope for luck and prayer for God's help are slightly different areas. For now, try to work at least in the job that you have (well, some vacancies, albeit not the most attractive, just for the first time, should be there!). In the meantime, I strongly advise you to start praying to the holy martyr and miracle worker Tryphon, they usually pray to him when looking for work. And do not despair, the Lord will arrange everything at the right time, although, of course, from within this situation, everything seems much more serious. God help you.
deacon Elijah Kokin
The priest blessed Saint Spyridon to read the Akathist, I was able to read with the icon not 40, but only 15 days, and this is due to the fact that severe headaches began, as soon as I decided not to read anymore - the pains stopped during the day. A month later, already without the blessing of the priest, I decided to read to Nicholas the Wonderworker, - I could only again 15 days for similar reasons, and stopped in the same way ... Please tell me if this has ever happened to anyone and for what reasons, and in what could be the matter? I'm a little shocked! Thank you.
Gennady
Gennady, I personally have never heard this, although, of course, there are many temptations in prayer, and they are different. Pray in obedience, as you have been blessed, slowly overcome obstacles, and God bless you!
Abbot Nikon (Golovko)
Save me, God! Is it possible to put a photograph of the deceased on a shelf over which icons hang and a lamp stands? And another question: I read the morning and evening rules for prayer, and now I downloaded the translation into Russian and began to read the leaflets. Am I not sinning, and should I take a blessing for this?
Natalia
Natalia, we pray for icons to the Saints who are glorified by God and the church. Putting a photo next to icons is not good. Photos of our loved ones should be in the appropriate places (box, album), or if you really want to, you can hang them on the wall or put them on the sideboard, but not next to the icons. Read the prayers as you used to read them, according to the Prayer Book, do not change anything.
Hieromonk Victorin (Aseev)
Hello dear priests! The closer to the church, the more questions. Please tell me how often and on what issues do you need to take a blessing from the priest in the church? I thought (and I take) - in extreme cases, for example, before an operation, for reading the Psalter, etc. Probably, for some important business, trips should be taken. The other day after the service, I heard a conversation between two women in the temple, one said to the other that it was necessary to take a blessing for taking a pill - at what time to take it. I also take this medicine, but how to drink it - the doctor prescribes. On the site, too, I often read that it is necessary to take a blessing, it turns out, literally for everything. By the way, on your advice, I went to my priest to bless me for reading akathists and canons, he, of course, blessed me on the way, but somehow he looked at me strangely. So I argue - if we are with any business, and each person has a lot of them, we will approach the priests, then where will they take so much time for us? And, by the way, the second is connected with this question. I also often read your recommendations on the site and advice to ask more of my priests in churches. Alas. To ask about the important, the main thing - always on the go, on the run, or in general - nothing at all. And talk, consult ... Only dream. At confession, too - for everything about everything in a few minutes. I think it’s the same in many temples. It turns out that you have a wonderful site that helps us a lot (often there is nowhere else to ask, find out), but sometimes it is at odds with reality. I wish you all the best and best.
Tatiana
Tatyana, a blessing should be taken in cases where spiritual help and assistance is required. Of course, for taking a pill, and for every "sneeze" - this is too much. As for our discrepancy with reality, it’s more likely, dear Tatyana, to you an easy reproach, and not to the site. The fact is that we all need to treat our souls very, very carefully, and if there is no opportunity to talk with a priest in our church, then we must look for a priest with whom we can talk. You should not get used to the bad, but this "on the run" is bad, but you should not accept this and make the norm what is unacceptable. A conversation about the soul is a serious conversation, one cannot be mistaken here, since this conversation is about eternal life and eternal death, and do not run him do not lead. It does not work in your church - look, if you can, another, look for a more accessible confessor, but do not stop at such a state. Do not accept what is, look for the best!
Abbot Nikon (Golovko)
Hello father! Please tell me is it possible to read the prayer of detention? When can it be read, is a blessing needed? God bless you!
Inna
Hello Inna. This "prayer" is a pseudo-Orthodox remake, in its spirit - paganism, and comes from the perverted consciousness of a fallen man. And an Orthodox person should be aware that no troubles and misfortunes, no "holding the enemy" can happen to him, if there is no will of God, good, holy and all-perfect. In adversity, one must pray as the Gospel teaches: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; however, not as I want, but as You. Thy will be done" (Matthew 26.39, 46). And like a prudent robber, recognize ourselves worthy of all punishments and sorrows, whatever God wants to give us, so that we can buy eternity for ourselves at this small price in the limited time of earthly life.
Priest Alexander Beloslyudov
Good evening. My name is Victoria. I need your help. On the eve my husband and I were asked to marry a couple of young people. I have a bride cousin... My parents married the bride's parents. In what cases can we refuse to marry them? I believe that giving up on becoming godparents- it is a sin. We are not able to this moment to marry the young. My husband and I got married six months ago and we live in a rented apartment, and we still have a debt to pay from the wedding. Moreover, during all this time I did not see much honor and respect from them for their parents, as for their godparents, but on the contrary, ridicule and arrogance. Therefore, we do not want to marry them, because they only need it for show. Moreover, I understand the full responsibility of the obligations undertaken if we agree to marry. And they turned to us only because there are no more married couples in their circle. Otherwise, we don't want to get married. And one more question - how to get a blessing for conceiving a baby? We lost our baby 3 months ago early date, 5 weeks, and very worried. Now, with God's blessing, we want to try again. Waiting for an answer. Thank you.
Victoria
Victoria, there is no need to look for any special reasons to refuse to be a witness at the wedding, this is a voluntary matter. If you do not want to participate in their wedding, do not participate - this is not a sin, it is a person's free will. Here is a prayer for the birth of a child, read it every day. "Hear us, Merciful and Almighty God, may Thy grace be sent down by our prayer. Be merciful, O Lord, to our prayer, remember Thy Law on the multiplication of the human race and be a merciful Patron saint, so that Thy help will preserve what was established by Thy power. He created everything out of nothing and laid the foundation for everything in the world that exists - He created man in His own image and, with a high secret, sanctified the union of matrimony and the premonition of the mystery of the union of Christ with the Church. Your help, may Your mercy be upon them, may they be fruitful and may they see the son of their sons even to the third and fourth generation and will live to the desired old age and enter the Kingdom of Heaven through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all glory, honor and worship are due with the Holy Spirit forever. Amen. "
How to get a blessing from a priest
It is not customary to address a priest by his first name and patronymic, he is called his full name - as it sounds in Church Slavonic, with the addition of the word "father": "Father Alexy" or "Father John" (but not "Father Ivan"!) Or (as is customary among the majority of church people) "father". A deacon can also be addressed by his name, which must be preceded by the word "father" or "father deacon". But from the deacon, since he does not have the grace-filled power of ordination to the priesthood, it is not necessary to take a blessing.
The appeal "bless!" - this is not only a request to give a blessing, but also a form of greeting from a priest, with whom it is not customary to greet with worldly words like "hello". If at this moment you are next to the priest, then it is necessary, having made a waist bow, touching with your fingers right hand floor, then stand in front of the priest, hands folded, palms up - right over left. Father, overshadowing you with the sign of the cross, says: "God bless" or: "In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit" - and puts his right, blessing hand on your palms. At this moment, the layman receiving the blessing kisses the priest's hand. It happens that kissing the hand confuses some beginners. We should not be embarrassed - we do not kiss the priest's hand, but Christ himself, who at this moment invisibly stands before us and blesses us ... And we touch with our lips the place where the wounds from the nails were on the hands of Christ ...
A man, accepting a blessing, can, after kissing the priest's hand, kiss his cheek, and then again his hand.
The priest can bless at a distance, as well as put the sign of the cross on the bowed head of a layman, then touching his head with his palm. One should not just before taking a blessing from a priest, sign oneself with the sign of the cross - that is, "be baptized into a priest." Before taking the blessing, usually, as we have already said, a bow is performed with the hand touching the ground.
If you approach several priests, the blessing must be taken according to seniority - first from the archpriests, then from the priests. And if there are many priests? You can take a blessing from everyone, but you can also, after making a general bow, say: "Bless, honest fathers." In the presence of the ruling bishop of the diocese - the bishop, archbishop or metropolitan - ordinary priests do not give blessings; in this case, the blessing should only be taken from the bishop, naturally, not during the liturgy, but before or after it. The clerics, in the presence of the bishop, can, in response to your general bow to them with the greeting “bless”, respond with a bow.
The situation during the divine service looks tactless and dishonorable, when one of the priests goes from the altar to the place of confession or to perform baptism, and many parishioners at that moment rush to him for a blessing, crowding each other. There is another time for this - you can take a blessing from the priest even after the service. Moreover, at parting, the blessing of the priest is also requested.
Who is the first to come under the blessing, to kiss the cross at the end of the service? In a family, this is done first by the head of the family - the father, then the mother, and then the children by seniority. Among the parishioners, men come first, then women.
Do I need to take a blessing on the street, in a store, etc.? Of course, it is good to do this, even if the priest is in civilian clothes. But it is hardly appropriate to squeeze, say, to the priest at the other end of the bus, full of people to take a blessing - in this or a similar case, it is better to limit yourself to a slight bow.
How to address the priest - "you" or "you"? Of course, we turn to the Lord as "you" as the closest to us. Monks and priests usually communicate with each other in "you" and by name, but in front of strangers they will certainly say "Father Peter" or "Father George". It is still more appropriate for parishioners to address the priest as "you." Even if you and your confessor have developed such a close and warm relationship that in personal communication 
you are on "you" with him, it is hardly worth doing so in front of strangers, within the walls of the temple such an appeal is inappropriate, it hurts the ear. Even some mothers, wives of priests, in the presence of parishioners try, out of delicacy, to address the priest with "you."